Drag Race star Chi Chi DeVayne has passed away

Chi Chi DeVayne – born Zavion Davenport – has died aged 34, days after being admitted to hospital for pneumonia.

“Keep me in your prayers. I’ll be back soon,” the drag queen said in a video from a hospital bed, shared to social media on Saturday (August 15). In July, DeVayne had also been hospitalised with suspected kidney failure related to the autoimmune disease scleroderma.

DeVayne was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, and rose to national fame as a fan favourite on season eight of RuPaul’s Drag Race, returning for the third iteration of the show’s All-Stars spin off in 2018. In a statement shared via Instagram, RuPaul says: “I am heartbroken to learn of the passing of Chi Chi DeVayne.”

“I am so grateful that we got to experience her kind and beautiful soul. She will be dearly missed, but never forgotten. May her generous and loving spirit shine down on us all. On behalf of VH1, World of Wonder and the cast and crew of RuPaul’s Drag Race, I extend my deepest sympathy – from our family to hers.”

Many other friends, fans, and co-stars have also been sharing their condolences on social media, including drag queens Trixie Mattel, Shea Couleé, and Marti Gould Cummings (see below).

DeVayne also made appearances on the anthology series Little America, which told the stories of American immigrants, and the YouTube talk show Hey Qween!.